Apocalypticism and Jewish identity in the Dead Sea Scrolls

The apocalyptic worldview has often been regarded as incompatible with the covenantal nomism. The sectarians held the two together, by holding people responsible for their actions, even if those actions were predetermined. This fusion of incongruous traditions entailed a significant revision of the traditional covenant. No longer would all Israel have a share in the world to come. Membership in the new covenant was not co-extensive with ethnic Israel, as it had been in Deuteronomy. The Scrolls radically altered the basis of Jewish identity from one that was based on land and descent to one that was based on merit.